"She's six, actually, and she would be more than able to hold her own if I were to start her today.  I came because I wanted to make sure that… that everything was going to be all right.  I've grown quite fond of the Grangers, and they are both very worried for their daughter."

Snape arched a single brow.  "I take it that they are part of your committee, then?"

"They've been getting the paper delivered even when their daughter isn't at home.  The moment they heard about the Marriage Law they contacted the Weasleys.  Arthur and Molly invited them to join them when they came to speak with me.  I… uh… I was the Ministry when the law was passed and I'm afraid that I caused a rather big scene."

A grin tugged at the corners of Severus' mouth.  "I seem to remember reading something about it in the papers.  Something about you hurling Cornelius Fudge into the Fountain of Magical Brethren and then hurling both Wizarding and Muggle insults at him in four different languages."  The grin eventually appeared as he looked at Lizzie's flaming face.  "You always seemed like such a sweet, docile Hufflepuff.  Wherever did you learn such foul language?"

"My father was a sailor who liked his rum."

"And suddenly it is all so much clearer."  He turned his attention to the tea tray.  "Can I interest you in a cup?"

Relieved to be moving away from her display of temper at the Ministry, Mrs. Snape smiled.  "Yes, please.  Cream and six sugars, if you will."

"Six?  The Headmaster's sweet tooth must be contagious."

"The Grangers are always scolding me about how much sugar I eat.  They're both dentists, you know.  Very popular ones from what I can gather."

"I take the time to familiarize myself with the personal files of all my students, Elizabeth."

"So you knew my father was a sailor." 

"I would hardly call a Naval Captain a mere 'sailor'."  He handed her a cup of tea prepared to her specifications.  He took his own without cream or sugar, preferring the slightly bitter taste of the untainted tea.  "The Grangers' current state of upset is regrettable, but there is little that can be done to alleviate the problem.  Until you manage to work some magic of your own and get this ridiculous law thrown out, Miss Granger is vulnerable."

Lizzie sighed.  "Hermione Granger is not the only one in danger.  I realize that there are other concerns at the moment, and even though no one has ever come right out and said so, I suspect that Albus Dumbledore has his own band of allies and followers fighting against You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters, but you all act as though the fate of the entire world hinges on this one girl."

"It very well may."

Elizabeth blinked and set her cup back onto her saucer.  "How do you mean?"

Severus took a long drink of his own tea, as though buying time to form thoughts into words.  "Everyone is terrified of the Dark Lord.  They tremble in fear at the mere mention of him.  In their terror they have forgotten that he was once a man, and before that he was a boy.  He was a student at this very school, and a brilliant one.  Fifty years ago he set academic records that broke even those set by Dumbledore in his own youth.  Those records stood unchallenged for five decades until Hermione Granger walked into this castle.  She has shattered them all through dedication and her own brilliance."

"You think she could be powerful enough to defeat… well… I thought it was believed that Harry Potter would be the one to…"

"And he may very well be the one to defeat the Dark Lord, but if there is one thing that has become blatantly obvious during the past six years it is that Mr. Potter has a penchant for getting into sticky situations that only his friend, Miss Granger, can get him out of.  That boy hardly makes a move without her behind him.  He may be the muscle, but she is the mind.

"She is also fairly attractive and extremely powerful.  She will be an asset to any wizarding family.  The Death Eaters could accomplish two feats through this law; the first is to bind Hermione Granger to one of their own sons and thereby securing their family bloodline and the second is to deal a crushing blow to the Light by taking away one of our most powerful allies.  It is of tantamount importance that the girl doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

"I don't think that the Grangers realize any of that, not truly.  Oh, they had the measure of Lucius Malfoy right enough.  Of course, that wouldn't be too hard to do.  The man positively screams 'evil git' when he walks into a room."

"And he would most certainly fall under the category of 'wrong hands'.  Our original plan, of course, was to tie the girl to the Weasleys.  She's rather close to that particular family."

"So I've heard.  In any event, our allies have determined that leaving her tied to me is for the best.  They seem to feel that I'm more intimidating that the Weasleys."

"I don't know where they would have gotten that idea."  Lizzie set her cup down upon a little table by her chair.  "Severus, I know you've never been fond of me, and I suspect there is some resentment at my marrying your father…"

"It has nothing to do with you.  Well, not entirely with you."

"I don't seek to take your mother's place."

"That would be hard to do since, in my father's eyes, my mother never had a place.  I am, however, disappointed in you."

"Disappointed?"

"You were Head Girl and as clever as they come.  Rarely do I have a student who actually enjoys learning.  I can honestly say that I haven't had one of your ilk since, well, since Miss Granger finally came to school.  I only had you during your seventh year, but you left an impression.  I am disappointed because I would have thought you had more intelligence than to marry a man like my father.  You could have been great."